Motor boat top



' K. M. GRlER MOTOR BOAT'TOP Original Filed Jan.

Sept. 20, 1932.

Patented Sept. 2f), 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl KENNETH ivi. GRIER, OE NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, AssioNoR To HAYMO ELECTRIC SPEED BOAT CORPORATION, LTD., or Los IPORATION 0F NEVADA ANGELES CALIFORNIA, A OOR- MOTOR BOAT Tor Original application filed January 11, 1930, Serial No. 420,114. Divided. and this application led Sepf tember 18,1931. serial No. 563,479.

This invention relates generally to motor Vdriven boats of a type adapted for use as cation referred to deals primarily with an l electric drive for such boats `and the arrangement and mounting of thedrive'parts upon the tunnel portion of the hull at the rear thereof; while the present invention is directed particularly to an improved form of top construction for the boat.

The general construction of boatsof the. present type may be described as comprising a hull having a seat containing cock-pit intermediate its ends, the hull being covered with deckingforwardly and rearwardly of the cock-pit. In the course of loading` and unloading passengers from such boats, the latter are drawn alongside a wharf or loading platform, the level of which-ordinarily is somewhat above the top decking surface of the boat, with the result that access to and from the cock-pit of the boat is had by stepping directlyv down into the cock-pit or upwardlytherefrom onto thewharf. -It is a general purpose of the invention to provide a top structure which normally'extends above and covers the cock-pit, but which is readily adjustable topermit loading and'unloading of passengers without interference with the top. In accordance with theinvention I have provided a top structure of a tilting type so arranged and mounted relativeto the-cockpit, that the top may be tilted clear of the cock-pit to permit unobstructed entrance and eXit of passengers. My improved topin its preferred form comprises a frame pivotally supported at the Vrear of the cock-pit, and preferably upon the decking, vand, suitable supporting means for the forward portion of the top at points advanced from Vthe rear pivotal mountings, the forward supports vbeing preferably located in `front of the cockpit. The invention embodies numerous additional features ofimprovement, such for example as vthe particular structural characteristics of my preferred embodiment of the invention.: These, however, as ywell as the more generalcharacteristics of the invention above mentioned, will be most readily understood from the'following detailed description. I:Reference is had throughout the description to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view showing a boat equipped with my -improved form of top;

VFig. 2 isia front elevational :view of F ig. l, as viewed from the left; and

tional view showing one of the rear pivo-tal supports for the top.

cates'the hull of the boat,the rear bottom portion of ,the hull being formed by a tunnel-- Referring first Vto F ig. 1, numeral 10 indi- Fig., 3 isV an'enlarged fragmentary sc Y shaped casting 11, uponwhich an electric,

motor 12, driving the propeller 13, is mounted. The propeller shaft 14 extends through an elongated bearing portion 15 of the tunnel 1l, and as will be noted, by virtue of the tunnel shaped characteristics of the casting 11, the propeller 13 is substantially entirely contained therein. `The motor 12 is supplied with current-from a storage battery 16, and the operation of the motor in reverse directions is controlled by a 'switch mechanism 17 operated by lever 18Vmounted within the hull at one'side of the cock-pit. `litudder 20, also contained within the tunnel casting 11, nis operated by way of cables21 attached to the steering vwheel shaft 22. VThe various -advantage-s and novel features embodied in the illustrated tunnel casting, and themounting of the? drive :motorand the propeller Y thereon, are fully described in my lcopending application, Ser. No. 120,114 and will re- 'quire no further mention herein. Y

rThe cock-pit generally indicated at 23, and containing the seat 24, is located intermediate the vforward and rear .ends of thehull, the latter being covered by decking 25 andl 26 forwardlyV and rearwardly of the cock-pit. A top structure, generally 1indicated at'27, normally extends horizontally over the cockpit in the position shown, the top preferably being supported both atthe front and rear of the cock-pit, and being tiltable about its are curved downwardly along their rear Vpor-Vv tions as at 28a, and have'suitablepivotal connections at 30 with the decking 26 at the rear of the cock-pit, as will permit rearward tilting of the top. Although in the broad aspects of the invention any suitable type of support for the top at the rear of the cockpitmay behad to permit such t-ilting movement, I preferably utilize the form of support shown in detail in Fig; 3.

' The curved end portions 28a of the side frame rods are inserted within socket sleeves 3l pivotally attached to the decking 26 by hinged connection 32. Rubber buffer rings 33 are placed upon sleeve 31 as protection to the decking when the top is .tilted backA to the dotted line position of Fig. l. As will be seen, the top 27 may he readily disconnected y from its rear support 30 simply byy withdrawjing the side frame rods from theY pivoted socket sleeves 3l. The top frame is covered by a suit-able fabric which is shown to eX- `tend only rearwardly to the' curved portions 28a of the side frame rods, although the covering may be extended further down at the vrear if desired.

rThe forward end of the top" is supported on fa pair of standards havingfootings on a raised floor 36 at the bottom of the hull. Standards 35 have enlarged flanges 37 at their upper ends, and upon which the side rods 28 of the top frame rest substantially at their juncture with the forward transverse frame member 29. From the foregoing it willfbe understood that the.-top `simply rests uponthe upper ends of standards 35, and that the top may bey tilted rearwardly to openly expose the cock-pit, by swinging the top to a position of rest on the rear decking 26 as shownby the dotted lines 27a.l Y

I preferably provide means for releasably securing the top against being tilted backward asa result of wind pressure directed against its'under side. As typical of such means I show a spring pressed latch 38 'adapted to engage a forward projection 39 carried on a rod 4.0 extending between the standards 35 directly below the forward frame member 29. As will be seen, asthe top is swung down to a positionof rest upon vrstandards 35, the latch 38 automatically engages lug 39 to prevent raising of the top -until the latch is manually released. Latch 38 preferably is located centrally of the forward end of the top so as to be `readily access'ible to an attendant on thewharf from either side of the boat. Y

kfeatures shown and described and that the invention is to be regarded as limited only in respect 'toy those limitations expressed in the appended claims.

I claim 1.`In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends of the boat, a top extending above said cockpit, means for supporting said; top on the decking at the rear of they cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cock-4 pit to permit access thereto, and a pair. of standards eXtcnding above the decking atthe front ofthecockpit and supporting the forward portion of the top.

. 2. In a boat of the character described, a

hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends of the boat, a top extending above said cockpit, said top comprising ak frame having a pairfof side rods interconnected at their forward end by a transverse rail, means for pivotally and releasably supporting said side rods on the decking at the rear'of the cockpit, and a pair of standards` yextending above the deckingat the front of the-cockpit and supporting the forward edge of the top. f i

3.l In a'boat of the character described, a

hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the kends of the boat, a top extending above` said cockpit, said top having` a frame comprising a pair of side rods, the Vrear portions of which are curved downwardly to the decking at the rear of the cockpit,` means for Vattaching said curved portions ofsaid side rods to the decking to permit tilting of the top rearwardly of the cockpit, and means for supporting said top at points forwardlyvof the rear of the cockpit. p

4. In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends ofthe boat, a top extending above saidcockpit, said top having a frame comprising a pair ofY side rods, the rear portions of which are curved downwardly to the decking at the-rear of the cockpit, means for attaching said curved portions of said side rods yto the decking to permit'tilting of the top rearwardly of thek cockpit, said means comprising a pair of socket 'tubes pivotally attached-to the decking and receiving theends of said frame rods, and means for supporting said'top at points forwardly ofthe rear of the cockpit. Y y

5; In avboat of the characterk described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends of the boat, a top extending abovesaid cockpit, said top having, V

l'a frame comprising a pair ofside rods, vthe rear portion of which are curved downwardly to the decking at the rear of the cockpit, means for attaching said curved portions of said side rods to the decking to permit tilting of the top rearwardly of the cockpit, said means comprising a pair of socket tubes pivotally attached to the decking and receiving the ends of said frame rods, and a pair of standards extending above the decking forwardly of the cockpit and supporting the front portion of the top.

6. In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends of the boat, a top extending above said cockpit, means for supporting said top on the decking at the rear of the cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cockpit to permit access thereto, a pair of standards extending above the decking at the front of the cockpit and supporting the forward portion of the top, a transverse member interconnecting said standards, and means for releasably attaching the top to said transverse member.

7 In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends of the boat, a top extending above said cockpit, said top having a frame comprising a pair of side rods, the rear portion of which are curved downwardly to the decking at the rear of the cockpit, means for attaching said curved portions of said side rods to the decking to permit tilting of the top rearwardly of the cockpit,said means comprising a pair of socket tubes pivotally attached to the decking and receiving the ends of said frame rods, a pair of standards extending above the decking forwardly of the cockpit and supporting the front portion of the top, a transverse'member interconnecting said standards, and means for releasably attaching the top to said transverse member.

8. In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit within the hull, a top extending above said cockpit, means for pivotally supporting said top at the rear of the cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cockpit to permit access thereto, and means for supporting said top independently of the first mentioned supporting means at points forward of said pivotal supports, said top comprising a pair of rigid side members having vertically extending rear portions adapted to be supported on the decking at the rearof the cockpit when the top is tilted rearwardly, said members extending forwardly to said supporting means.

9. In a boat of the character described, aV

hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit within the hull, a top extending above said cockpit, means for pivotally supporting said top at the rear of the cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cockpit to permit access thereto, and means for supporting the forward portion of said top at the front of said cockpit, said' top comprising a pair of rigid side members having vertically extending rear Vportions adapted to be supported on the decking at the rear of the cockpit when the top is tilted rearwardly, said members extending forwardly to said supporting means.

10. In a boat o-f the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends of the boat at top extending above said cockpit, said top having a rigid frame, means for supporting said top at the rear of the cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cockpit to permit access thereto, and a pair of top supporting standards projecting above the cockpit at the. front thereof.

11. In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit within the hull, a top extending above said cockpit, means for pivotally supporting said top at the rear of the cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cockpit to permit access thereo, and means for supporting said top independently of the iirst mentioned suportino means at oints forward of said ivotal supports, said top being disengageable from said supporting means.

12. In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpitwithin the hull, a top extending above said cockpit, means for pivotally supporting said top at the rear of the cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cockpit to permit access thereto, and 4means for supporting the forward portion of said top at the front of said cockpit, said top being disengageable from said supporting means.

13. In a boat of the character described, a hull and decking on said hull, a cockpit intermediate the ends of the boat, a top extending above said cockpit, said top having a. rigid frame, means for supporting said top at the rear of the cockpit, said top being tiltable rearwardly of the cockpit y to permit access thereto, and a pair of. top supporting standards projecting above the cockpit at the front thereof, said top being disi engageable from said standards.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of July, 1931.

KENNETH M. GRIER.

CERTIFCATE 0F CORRECTIGN.

Patent No. 1,878, 393. September 20, 1932.

KENNETH M. GRIER.

it is hereby certified that errer appears'in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as ollews: Page 3, line 77, claim l0, for "at" read "a"; and line 91, claim 1l, for the misspelled word "thereo" read "thereto"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may eoniorm to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day o December, A. i). 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

